My Mute Bride

Not long after Victor left, Rachel heard the doorbell ring.

Originally thinking he left something behind, she opened the door, only to see a courier.

“Ms. Rachel Hudson?”

Upon hearing that, Rachel nodded.

“There are two intracity express parcels for you. Please sign here.”

Startled, she signed for the parcels, thereafter receiving a cake and a paper bag.

Right now on the table, there was still half an uneaten cake that Victor had rushed out to buy at noon upon finding out it was her birthday.

So, who bought the cake that the courier delivered?

Setting it aside on the table for now, she pulled a rectangular suede box out of the paper bag.

With a click, she opened it and discovered a silver-colored necklace in the box that glimmered underneath the light

The pendant was in the simple design of a small sun with a hollow center.

Putting down the box, she found a card on top of the cake box that simply read ‘Happy Birthday’ without any signature.

Dumbfounded, she stared at the items until her phone started vibrating.

It was a text message from Julian reading, ‘Did you receive what I sent?’

Immediately, she understood. ‘I did. I was wondering who would remember my birthday.’

‘Don’t forget that you’re a patient of mine. It’s not strange that I would remember your birthday.’

‘Thank you.

‘You’re welcome. Are you free? I just finished work; come down for a walk with me!

Looking at the time, she agreed, ‘Okay.’

At this hour after dinner, the community was lively. All of the houses were lit up, and the sound of children laughing could be heard around the neighborhood as they ran around playing.

she could even offer some to anyone, a group of

is so

lifted a knife and a paper

out of a box to the side. “Today is Miss Rachel’s birthday. Before she treats you all

head of the group, which happened to be a

sing the ‘Happy Birthday’

must close her

Rachel must blow

shook her head to indicate to Julian that

and had the children sing ‘Happy Birthday’ in unison. The delicate

“Make a wish.”

There’s no need.

a wish on your birthday, Miss Rachel. My mommy says you have to say it in your heart and not out loud, or the wish won’t come

head to look, she found a little girl who wasn’t even at table height yet looking up at her with pretty,

of the children, clasped her hands and made a wish. After

you!” their parents

raced off, dabbing icing on each other’s faces. Just like that, the strangers in the community suddenly seemed closer and

the light of the streetlamp, Rachel finally smiled for the first time in days. Thank

“The most important thing right now is to take care of your body and your mood. You don’t need to worry about anything else.

Don’t worry about me. I never wanted it, anyway, so I might as well pretend it never existed for now. At that

“Go on upstairs, then. It’s been

she turned and

inside her apartment and about

slam, the door was propped open by a large hand

her, his darkened face made all the

he out on business?

house and shut the door before surveying

been getting along fine without

steps back. Why are

her as he pulled off his necktie and threw it onto

were like unmelting icebergs as he sneered, “I suppose you wouldn’t want me to ruin your blissful

by step he approached her,

Rachel had no idea what she did

staggered after him and